Wilhelm lauter



Patented Oct. ll, I898.

W. LAUTER. APPARATUS FOR DRIVING SUBTERRANEAN TUNNELS.

(Application filed Aug. 10, 1897.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILIIELM LAUTER, OF FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO THEFIRM OF F. O. GLASER, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

APPARATUS FOR DRIVING SUBTERRANEAN TUNNELS.

SPECIFICATION formin part Of Letters Patent No. 612,353, dated October11. 1898.

Application filed August 10,1897. Serial No. 647,741. (No model-lPatented in Germany April 25, 1895, No. 87 ,157, and

in England October 4, 1895,1I- 18,565.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILHELM LAUTER, a subject of the King of Prussia,German Emperor, residing at Frankfort-on-the-Main, in

the Kingdom of Prussia, Germany, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Appliances or Apparatus for Driving Subterranean Tunnelsor Galleries, (patented in Germany April 25, 1895, No. 87,157, and inEng- IO land October 4, 1895, No. 18,565,) of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to appliances or apparatus for driving tunnels orgalleries, more particularly applicable for driving in quick- I 5 sandand in soft or aqueous strata.

I will describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section, and Fig. 2 cross-sections,on lines A A and'B B.

Fig. 3 isa detail sectional view of the connections between theshield-sections.

It consists of the tubular shield D D the rear end of which incloses ashort length of the lining T of the finished tunnel or gallery,

while the fore part, which is constructed with a slope, penetrates intothe ground.

The iron lining of the tunnel or gallery consists of separate rings Tand of outwardprojecting ribs R, arranged between these rings. By meansof the said ribs the stiffness of the tunnel-wall is increased and therear part of the shield-casing is guided, leaving.

The driving forward of the shield, which is followed by the building inof the tunnel or gallery rings, is effected by the greater airpressureexisting in the chamber I and by the presses P, which bear on the onehand against the finished lining of the tunnel and on the other handagainst the partition N. Compressed air is introduced into the chamber Ifrom any suitable source of supply through a pipe M, extending throughthe wall M and provided at its end with a flap-valve Miwhich opensinwardly to the chamber I. In order to facilitate the forcing forward ofthe shield in curves, the tubular sides thereof are made of two parts Dand D which fit together, with overlapping spherically-shaped surfacesat U,and are adjusted relatively to each other by'the extension orshortening of the screws S, connected to both parts,\vithout materiallynarrowing the internal space of the shield or forming externalprojections which would interfere with the advance thereof. 7

The excavation of the face of the working is elfected by the openingsformed in the stepped face K of the shield, which are closed by covers,such excavation being effected solely through the horizontal holes solong as there is danger of the compressed air escaping; otherwise theexcavation is also effected through the vertical openings, the air-pressure employed being such as to balance the counter-pressure exercised bythe water or soil.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature'of thisinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is- 1. A tunnel-wall comprising rings provided withopenings extending through their sides and outwardly-extending ribsintermediate the rings, substantially as described. 9

The shield is divided by the air tight partitionN into two chambers Iand II, filled with compressed air, the outer chamber I being 5 inclosedat the rear end by the wall M, fixed to the finished tunnel-lining andhaving an air-sluice V, while the other chamber II is closed at thefront end by the step-shaped wall K, lying against the face of theworking.

2. In tunnel-driving apparatus, a tubular shield having a stepped end,the steps being provided with openings, and detachable covers for saidopenings, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a tunnel comprising a series of rings and formedwith a trans- Verse Wall, a tubular shield embracing one end of thetunnel and having a transverse name to this specification in thepresence of Wall, a series of presses intermediate said two subscribingWitnesses.

latter Wall and the end of the tunnel and means for introducingcompressed air i nter- WILHELM LAUTER' mediate the Walls of the tunneland shield, YVitnesses:

substantially as described. KARL TRIEBER,

In testimony whereof I have signed my FRANK H. MAsoN.

